Page 261 - Musings 2020
P. 261

Registrar:   Why   didn’t   you   bring   him   along?
               Sejal:  He’s  not  really…  comfortable,  you  know.  With  this  concept.  You  know  how  old  people
               are.

               Registrar   shuffles   his   feet   beneath   his   desk.

               Registrar's   Wife:   So,   he   doesn’t   know   about   this?


               Sejal:   Oh   no,   not   at   all!   But   don’t   worry,   I’ll   tell   him   soon.

               Anish:   Yes,   we’ll   do   it   at   the   same   time.


               Registrar's   Wife:   At   the   same   time!   You   haven’t   told   your   parents   either?


               Anish:   Well,   of   course   not!   Why   would   I   do   that?

               Registrar:   I’m   curious   now.   What   did   those   7   days   do   to   you,   to   be   so   sure   about   this?


               Anish   (dreamy-eyed):   Oh,   it’s   everything.   Every   morning   when   I   wake   up  to  look  at  her
               pretty  face,  I  feel  like  a  man  again!  She  makes  me  feel  complete  and  gives  me  the  purpose  I
               need   to   get   out   of   bed   and   face   the   horrible   world   outside.
               Sejal   smiles   again,   foolishly.


               Registrar   (looking   at   his   wife,   thinking):    All   I   see   are   the   wrinkles   on   her   face.


               Anish:   …   and   her   smile…   It’s   just   so   beautiful.

               Registrar   (now   looking   at   Sejal,   thinking):    Yes,   indeed.


               Anish:   So,   what’s   your   story?   How   did   you   meet?


               Registrar's   Wife:   Err…   We   actually   met   on   the   wedding   day,   but   it   was   love   at   first   sight.

               Registrar   looks   at   his   wife,   smiling   forcibly.


               Anish:   Oh!   So   an   arranged   marriage?


               Registrar:   No,   the   real   bride   ran   away,   so   I   married   her   sister.

               Sejal   looks   at   the   both   of   them,   scornfully.


               Anish   (thinking):    Who   DOES   that?


               Sejal:   How   long   have   you   guys   been   married?

               Registrar:   31   years   and   counting…






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